Eriosema shirense

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A woody herb. It grows 20 cm high. The taproot develops tubers 1.5 cm across and 2 cm long. The tubers are usually 10-25 cm below the soil surface. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaves are hairy and narrowly sword shaped. The flowers are in open groups. They are yellow with dark purple lines. The fruit are small hairy pods. They are 1.5 cm long.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in grassy and wooded savannah. In Kenya it grows between 1,400-2,200 m altitude. They are often in rocky areas. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The roots are eaten raw by children. They are peeled and eaten.

It is eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Root, tubers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Adokolet, Gololo, Kabomola, Kambumukire, Kampompo, Ng'athu, Qamura

Synonyms

Eriosema filipendulum Baker f.;